As soon as spring break rolls around and my kids have been home bothering…ahem, spending time with me for a whole week, it makes me realize that summer vacation is not too far away. I feel like we’ve gotten a bit of a jump-start on getting our summer gear, thanks to off-season swimming lessons, but still haven’t found a decent bag for toting all my kindergartner’s stuff…until now. PaddlePak is a water-resistant backpack for ages 2 and up that’s both pretty and practical. You can stash a wet suit or towel without worrying about ruining the fabric. A special roll-top seal keeps everything safe and secure, while the Trunki grip keeps sunglasses or water goggles within easy reach. Our favorite “de-tail” is the tail that [&hellip
kids’ backpacks Archive
Do you know a kid who’s bogged down by their bag? I see it nearly every day when kindergartners can barely manage to traverse the steep step up on the bus, thanks to a bulky backpack. It’s even more heartbreaking when it’s a preschooler who seems to be toting enough luggage for an overnight flight than a half day at school. And a lunch bag to the mix, and you’ve got a date with the chiropractor in your kid’s near future. Maybe that’s why we like SuperMe! bags so much. It’s perfect for the pint-sized Superman-in-the-making who can’t quite part with this special powers when headed off to school or daycare. You can choose between the Cape Backpack, a sturdy model that converts into a [&hellip
In today’s mail, the Old Navy back-to-school catalog arrived. It wasn’t the first one we received, and it isn’t even August yet. Seems hints of backpacks, lunchboxes and all things back-to-school are happening earlier and earlier this year. If you haven’t already gotten a jump yet on school supply shopping, allow us to whet your appetite with some items that are making a name for themselves–literally. Makaboo lets kids design and personalize their own lunchboxes, backpacks and other cool-for-school accessories. Simply select an item, and then choose from one of over 30 colors, a font for your name and favorite icon (take your pick of 100 different pictures!). You’re good to go! We think Makaboo will be a big hit this September, especially for kids [&hellip
I always get a little bummed right around the summer midway point; when I was a kid, my grandmother used to say, “After July 4th, summer’s over.” To this August-born babe, I was horrified by her statement and to this day, I still relish those dog days of lemonade drinking, firefly catching and all the little joys that make the season what it is. Imagine then those bittersweet feelings I experienced this week when the Lands’ End back-to-school catalog landed in our mailbox. It got me to thinking that it’s time to replace last year’s backpack with something a little more, shall we say, “lively.” After all, when you’re a rising third grader, anything remotely babyish just won’t do. So when we got a load [&hellip
As preschool slowly winds down, camp sign-ups are looming large. Lucky for us, my 4-year-old’s school conveniently offers a summer program with flexible scheduling. That means this mom can both work independently and enjoy some summer fun with her little one (or two). And since the camp day includes time for lunch, we’re already on the hunt for a combo lunch/backpack that can stand up to plenty of preschool play (or should we say, wear and tear?). We can never get enough of the adorable kids’ accessories from Skip Hop, and now there are some new animal friends to add to the merriment. Hippo and Dinosaur Zoo Packs and Lunchies are the ideal one-two punch when getting the kiddies off to camp. The coordinating sets [&hellip